Server-push service in heterogeneous network environment

Abstract

The disclosure is related identifying a push content frame at a transport layer and dynamically and selectively controlling a transmission path of a server push service by a server in a heterogeneous multipath transmission environment. The method may include determining whether frames are associated with the server push service when the frames are provided from an application layer to be transmitted to a user equipment, selecting at least one transmission path based on predetermined selection conditions from multiple transmission paths between the server and the user equipment, and transmitting, through the selected at least one transmission path, packetized frames associated with the server push service to the user equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling a transmission path of push contents by a server in a heterogeneous multipath transmission environment where the server includes at least one processor, at least one memory, and a communication circuit, the method comprising:
 monitoring transmission paths between the server and a user equipment and storing monitoring information; 
 determining target push-contents to push, transmitting a push promise frame to the user equipment, and assigning a push stream identifier (ID) to the determined target push-contents and storing information on the assigned push stream ID with information on the user equipment; 
 determining whether frames to be packetized are associated with a server push service based on the stored push stream ID; and 
 performing a transmission path control operation when the frames are determined to be associated with the server push service based on the stored push steam ID, 
 wherein the performing a transmission path control operation includes: 
 transmitting the frames of the determined target push-contents to the user equipment through at least one transmission path selected based on a predetermined selection condition from the monitored transmission paths. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitored information includes information on at least one of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and ports associated with the transmission paths. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing a transmission path control operation comprises:
 determining whether the monitored transmission paths include at least one transmission path that satisfies the predetermined selection condition; 
 transmitting the determined target push-contents to the user equipment through the satisfied at least one transmission path when the monitored transmission paths include the at least one transmission path satisfying the predetermined selection condition; 
 otherwise, postponing transmission of the determined target push-contents. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitting the determined target push-contents comprises:
 transmitting the determined target push-contents to the user equipment through one transmission path that is selected based on the predetermined selection condition from multiple transmission paths satisfying the predetermined selection condition. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitting the determined target push-contents comprises:
 transmitting the determined target push-contents to the user equipment through multiple transmission paths that satisfy the predetermined selection condition. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deleting the push stream ID when the transmission of the determined target push-contents is completed or when a postponing timer of the determined target push-contents is expired. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing a transmission path control operation comprises:
 determining a transmission order for sequentially transmitting the target push-contents based on priorities of the target push-contents, where the priorities are determined and assigned to the target push-contents based on properties of the target push-contents. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing a transmission path control operation comprises:
 determining a transmission order for sequentially transmitting the target push-contents based on priorities of the selected at least one transmission path, where the priorities are determined and assigned to the target push-contents based on properties of the selected at least one transmission path. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of controlling a transmission path of a server push service by a server in a heterogeneous multipath transmission environment where the server includes at least one processor, at least one memory, and a communication circuit, the method comprising:
 determining whether frames provided from an application layer are associated with the server push service when the frames are requested to be transmitted to a user equipment; 
 selecting at least one transmission path based on a predetermined selection condition from multiple transmission paths established between the user equipment and the server; and 
 transmitting, through the selected at least one transmission path, the frames associated with the server push service to the user equipment, 
 wherein the determining is performed based on a push stream identifier (ID) assigned to target push-contents to be pushed to the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , prior to the determining, further comprising:
 receiving a request for predetermined contents from the user equipment; 
 monitoring the multiple transmission paths established to the user equipment based on information included in the request; and 
 storing and managing the monitoring results. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , prior to the determining, further comprising:
 determining the target push-contents to be transmitted to the user equipment as the server push service; 
 assigning the push stream identifier (ID) to the target push-contents; and 
 storing information on the assigned push stream ID, the target push-contents, and the user equipment in a form of a mapping table. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the determining comprises:
 reading a value in predetermined bits of each frame provided from an application layer; 
 determining whether the read value is associated with the push stream ID assigned to the target push-contents for the server push service; and 
 determining that frame is for the server push service when the read value is associated with the assigned push stream ID. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 obtaining priorities of the multiple transmission paths; and 
 selecting at least one having a priority higher than a predetermined reference from the multiple transmission paths. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the priorities are determined and assigned to the multiple transmission paths based on properties of the multiple transmission paths. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the priorities are determined and assigned to the multiple transmission paths based on priorities of the target push-contents. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 obtaining priorities of the multiple transmission paths; and 
 selecting one transmission path that does not charge the user equipment based on an amount of data used from the multiple transmission paths. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining a transmission order for sequentially transmitting packetized frames of the target push-contents; and 
 transmitting the packetized frames through the selected at least one transmission path based on the determined transmission order. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the transmission order is determined based on priorities assigned to the target push-contents and priorities assigned to the selected at least one transmission path; 
 the priorities of the target push-contents are determined based on properties of the target push-contents; and 
 the priorities of the selected at least one transmission path are determined based on properties of the selected at least one transmission path. 
 
     
     
       19. A server of controlling a transmission path of a server push service in a heterogeneous multipath transmission environment, the server comprising at least one processor, at least one memory, and a communication circuit,
 wherein the at least one processor is configured to: 
 determine whether frames provided from an application layer are associated with the server push service when the frames are requested to be transmitted to a user equipment; 
 select at least one transmission path based on a predetermined selection condition from multiple transmission paths established between the user equipment and the server; and 
 packetize the frames associated with the server push service and transmit the packetized frames to the user equipment through the selected at least one transmission path; and 
 wherein the determining of the at least one processor is performed based on a push stream identifier (ID) assigned to target push-contents to be pushed to the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       20. The server of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 determine a transmission order for sequentially transmitting the packetized frames of the target push-contents; and 
 transmit the packetized frames through the selected at least one transmission path based on the determined transmission order.